17-year-old Palestinian injured with live fire in Kafr Qaddum clashes

June 23, 2017 7:02 P.M. (Updated: June 24, 2017 1:58 P.M.)

QALQILIYA (Ma’an) -- A Palestinian teenager was injured with live fire on Friday as Israeli forces suppressed the weekly march in the village of Kafr Qaddum in the northern occupied West Bank district of Qalqiliya.

Coordinator of the village’s popular resistance Murad Shteiwi told Ma’an that 17-year-old Subhi Abu Dayya was injured with a full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet in his right hand during clashes.

The teen was transferred to Rafidiya hospital in Nablus city, where his injury was described as serious.

According to Shteiwi, Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and FMJ bullets at protesters, while soldiers raided local homes and turned them into temporary military posts.

Shteiwi added that many locals suffered from tear gas inhalation and were treated on the scene by medical crews.

An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports.

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Residents of Kafr Qaddum began staging weekly protests in 2011 against land confiscations, as well as the closure of the village's southern road by Israeli forces. The road, which has been closed for 14 years, is the main route to the nearby city of Nablus, the nearest economic center.

The Israeli army blocked off the road after expanding the illegal Israeli settlement of Kedumim in 2003, forcing village residents to take a bypass road in order to travel to Nablus, which has extended the travel time to Nablus from 15 minutes to 40 minutes, according to Israeli rights group B’Tselem.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been detained during the demonstrations since their start in 2011, and at least one protester was killed, while 84 have been injured by live fire, including 12 children, Shteiwi told Ma'an during a similar protest last year.

Some 120 others have been detained at demonstrations and were subsequently held in Israeli custody for periods ranging between four and 24 months, Shteiwi said at the time, adding that they had paid fines totaling some 25,000 shekels (approximately $6,488).